tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27275781051761538552018-01-15T16:31:21.118+00:00My Perfume DiariesSuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.comBlogger293125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-1176984677639483202014-04-22T16:16:00.001+01:002014-04-22T16:17:17.376+01:00Two Oakmosses: Ladyboy And Black Violet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two seemingly different perfumes in my collection that have something in common: Oakmoss and violet.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnDRsbRMZWs/U1YQbX-O8WI/AAAAAAAACVU/O6kUU507z_E/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-22+at+2.43.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnDRsbRMZWs/U1YQbX-O8WI/AAAAAAAACVU/O6kUU507z_E/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-22+at+2.43.21+PM.png" height="375" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Lush Ladyboy</i></b>:&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>chamomile, labdanum, violet leaf, oakmoss, seaweed</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my attempt to leave my prejudices of Lush behind and actually experiment with an open mind.<br /><br />Ladyboy begins with a bubble gum note. Oh wait, it is banana flavoured bubblegum! Sweet, intense but inedible due it trademark 'Lush smell' which I find a bit overwhelming. It completely changes its direction into the oakmoss territory with only a trace of the banana bubblegum. Oakmoss shines and dominates the drydown. The violet leaf is ozonic and powdery at the same time and blends very well with oakmoss. I am impressed with the oakmoss experience. It dries down to a dark, musty, sweet, powdery, earthy smell. It is a rather enjoyable 'smell', a perfume that I could almost wear. Almost. It is a bit too stuffy for me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pKBYfh2hmsY/U1YQWexQj0I/AAAAAAAACVM/yvGZQSR6lsM/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-22+at+2.43.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pKBYfh2hmsY/U1YQWexQj0I/AAAAAAAACVM/yvGZQSR6lsM/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-22+at+2.43.36+PM.png" height="397" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Tom Ford Private Blend Black Violet</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Top: bergamot, citruses and fruity notes</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>middle: violet</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>base notes oak moss and woodsy notes.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of those fragrances that takes its own sweet time to develop, revealing itself, layer after layer. It is begins with a lemon balm note. It is not quite astringent but a gentle, warm lemon note with hints of sweetness from dry fruit. It stays this way for a long time, say about half an hour before it starts to morph into a lovely oakmoss perfume. It is powdery, musty, old smelling but also very airy, the factor that stuffy Ladyboy is missing. I think it is bright because of the violet, a slightly powdery floral. The woodyness is a nice surprise. Oakmoss and violet with woody ascents makes it is a beautiful floral chypre. It finally dries down into a woody floral with the characteristic oakmoss.<br /><br />The name Black is well justified. It is a lovely dark perfume. It is a darker version of Violet Blonde due to the lack of the powdery iris/violet factor but the presence oakmoss which gives a different kind of powdery-ness. And it smells nothing like Black Orchid. I am happy I forked out well deserved cash to blind buy a full bottle of this hard to find, discontinued beauty.<br /><br />Of the two, Black Violet is more polished, well made and truly a pleasure to wear. Ladyboy on the other hand is nice but somewhat sticky and harder to wear. I love the oakmoss in both: musty, earthy, old, powdery, dry and deeply sensuous.</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-20722411795084708142013-11-21T11:45:00.001+00:002013-11-21T11:45:50.925+00:00Juliette Has A Gun: Oil Fiction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bciimVOIzbQ/Uo3KlMLmHaI/AAAAAAAACSg/qu6nohUpl-Y/s1600/IMG_2900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bciimVOIzbQ/Uo3KlMLmHaI/AAAAAAAACSg/qu6nohUpl-Y/s1600/IMG_2900.jpg" height="400" width="361" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was new, it was exciting, it was niche, it was limited edition. I lived in the right place at the right time. I jumped at the opportunity and bought Oil Fiction as a goodbye present when I left the UK for good. It is my first JHAG perfume. You can read about the excitements and dilemmas (mine and of others) in this&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fragrantica.com/board/viewtopic.php?id=64885" target="_blank">thread I started</a>. I guess the initial excitement died down and I am not sure if the perfume took off as expected. After using this for a fair few months, I think I am ready to write my thoughts down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oil Fiction is a true amber scent, the kind of amber that is smooth and velvety. It is a soft spoken, dry, balsamic amber. Saffron is delicate but prominent and lasts for a fair bit before it merges into the powdery floral heart. Iris, which I hoped would take the centre stage (my initial expectation was that Oil Fiction would be a prominent iris and saffron fragrance) is definitely there but somewhat gets muddled into the amber. Iris leaves behind an undeniable powderyness. It is actually more floral than I initially thought. Ylang ylang and some more opulent (white?) florals emerge to take the perfume in a slightly different direction from its dry ambery beginnings. The perfume is still soft at this stage but it is more floral and more feminine. It dries down to a warm, balsamic powdery floral with hints of wood and a smidgen of patchouli.&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oil Fiction is a harmonious fragrance. It is rich, soft, full and elegant. It stays close to the skin but it is a powerful amber that lasts and lasts. It has the oriental feel without the heaviness associated with Arabian theme perfumes that I much dread. The dry down is floral-powdery-amber which to my own surprise reminds me of the dry down of Thierry Mugler's Alien Absolu, not quite as jasmine-y but very much warm, vanillaic balsamic amber. I wouldn't buy the full size paying crazy amount of money (€280 for 75mls, that is if at all I can find it in Australia) but I will surely enjoy my sample (and probably invest in Alien Absolu, because that is really something!)</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-85761370887669499662013-10-03T12:24:00.001+01:002013-10-03T14:15:42.179+01:00Dries Van Noten Par Frederic Malle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I tried this for the first time in Liberty London, knowing nothing about the notes which in my opinion is the best way to test a perfume. All I remember is the initial saffron hit and a really lovely sandalwood trail. The very first whiff calmed me down and made me happy. Thanks to <a href="http://www.beautyreductionista.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Liz</a> for this generous sample, now I can experience the same bliss at home! Read Liz's review&nbsp;<a href="http://www.beautyreductionista.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/dries-van-noten-par-frederic-malle.html?m=1" target="_blank">Here</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFZNpOTcPks/UkzjOCFnhzI/AAAAAAAACRM/eP_cj35V3V0/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UFZNpOTcPks/UkzjOCFnhzI/AAAAAAAACRM/eP_cj35V3V0/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Dries Van Noten is a deep and introspective perfume, both qualities I attribute to sandalwood. I think the perfume is all about sandalwood, the kind of sandalwood I know and love. I am from around the city of Mysore, so believe me when I say this sandalwood is good! I associate this kind of sandalwood with everything pure and sacred, hence the calming effect of the perfume.<br /><br />The perfume begins with Saffron diffused in cream. Delightful! It is dense, rich and very comforting. The cream is unsweetened and light but delicious. Saffron really stands out and it is very realistic and delicate. At this point, due to saffron and cream, I feel a 'Kulfi' coming along but it goes nowhere near the edible smell territory due to the progression of the perfume into sandalwood: beautiful, simple and elegant. It comes with a smooth, creamy, balsamic, powdery element that compliments the sandalwood well. There is a flash of nutmeg in there somewhere. The woodyness is enhanced by a stark cedar/guaiac wood, feels a bit synthetic but its lightness makes me think of vetiver. The dry down is all sandalwood, a little earthy, really warm and hearty.<br /><br />This perfume is enjoyable to wear. In spite of its gourmandish beginning, it stays true to sandalwood throughout but carries the velvety smoothness of cream throughout. It has moderate sillage and 2 sprays will last for hours on my skin and even days on clothes. You can get 3 x10 ml refills for $130, the cheapest option but that should last you quite a while given its tremendous staying power.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-35999181922985387992013-10-01T07:39:00.000+01:002013-10-01T08:12:16.478+01:00The Body Shop Honeymania Soap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Some can't wait to try it. Some are already loving it. As The Body Shop slowly rolls out the Honeymania range, it has got everyone talking about it. I finally got to try it and I am one delighted Pooh Bear! I am a bit of a Pooh Bear when it comes to honey scents. I have tried honey in so many forms (as evidenced by <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.com.au/search/label/honey" target="_blank">Honey in the tag cloud</a>) and can't get enough, my top 3 honey scents being BPAL's Womb Furie, Possets Honey and By Kilian Back To Black. Honeymania is closest to Possets Honey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-an04p8XEHqE/UkpYBwVbDvI/AAAAAAAACQs/wmobE6ZRu0c/s1600/IMG_0829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="572" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-an04p8XEHqE/UkpYBwVbDvI/AAAAAAAACQs/wmobE6ZRu0c/s640/IMG_0829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Honeymania is a delightful take on honey. It is sweet but mostly floral. It smells more like nectar than honey. It kind of smells like linden blossoms drenched in honey. It reminds me of pollen, nectar, spring, flowers, happiness, sunshine and all things fresh, girly and lovely! It is very satisfying for a honey lover and very much wearable because it is lighter than it is sweet. If you have smelt TBS's products with honey in them, you'll instantly recognise the honey note. I absolutely adore "<i>Lotus &amp; Frangipani Body Puree</i>" from Polynesian Spa Wisdom range and this is the same familiar honey note, only the honey in Honeymania is purer.<br /><br />I picked up only the soap because I was told by the shop assistant that Honeymania (like Chocomania) is not a limited edition and will be around for a long time. That gives me enough time to get the body butter when I finish my current pot and wait for the Eau de Toilette to be released in Australia.&nbsp;</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-58415714632595923902013-09-11T03:21:00.001+01:002013-09-11T03:23:24.689+01:00Spiritual Sky Musk & African Violet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BQhg-HrAKY/Ui_G4fND3iI/AAAAAAAACQQ/wTYAzDLaesQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8BQhg-HrAKY/Ui_G4fND3iI/AAAAAAAACQQ/wTYAzDLaesQ/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><b><i>Musk by Spiritual Sky</i></b><br />This musk perfume oil is an embodiment of hippie culture, like 'head shop' in a bottle! Nevertheless, it is well bended and balanced enough to pass off as an expensive perfume. It starts with a sweet amber note, warm and sensuous. Spices follow. Spices smell indistinct, somewhat like the spice remnants of an old wooden spice box. It is old, dusty, dry and nothing sharp. The Musk in it is a warm one, that gels well with the soft ambery spices. The musk is not animalic, not clean, not skin-like, just warm musk. The whole thing smells like incense sticks. Not pure frankincense but those incense sticks they burn in hippie shops. I like this as a smell but don't prefer to wear it as a perfume. Staying power is awesome. I think it could be a cozy autumn/winter perfume, if amber/musk is your thing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpjEc6LnkKE/Ui_G3oe07xI/AAAAAAAACQI/0bP2nyTj2vo/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpjEc6LnkKE/Ui_G3oe07xI/AAAAAAAACQI/0bP2nyTj2vo/s400/photo-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><i><b>African Violet by Spirtual Sky</b></i><br />This is beautiful. It smells like Parma Violets, sweet and powdery. Powdery, as in floral, young, bright powdery, not as in heavy, artificial powder. I don't think it is a true violet perfume because I can't smell the green/dewy fresh violet leaf aspect or the delicate smell of the flower (to experience which I just take a sniff of my Guerlain Meteorites powder!). It is that smell of edible violet candy and it is a beautiful smell. Easy to wear, makes me feel pretty and girly. It is a comforting smell. The staying power is not as great as the musk but lasts a good few hours.<br />I love the colour of the perfume oil. It is so... violet! It reminds me of Gentian Violet and Haematoxylin pencils. Not to wear with white clothes.<br /><br />Bought both at local bath and body shop at $10.95 each<br /><br />PS: I'm back in Australia! I'm on <a href="http://instagram.com/deliciousgirl1" target="_blank">Instagram</a>!</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-23507904330628757802013-06-01T01:23:00.000+01:002013-06-01T01:23:16.609+01:00Bond No 9: Central Park West<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMpFvpUlVi4/UPWhqe5YPMI/AAAAAAAAB-w/u9BnyjhFib4/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMpFvpUlVi4/UPWhqe5YPMI/AAAAAAAAB-w/u9BnyjhFib4/s640/IMG_1083.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Central Park West</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bondno9.com/shop/eau-de-parfum/uptown/view/central-park-west" target="_blank">Bond No 9</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A legendary, grand-scale address with a grand-scale front yard deserves an eau de parfum to match. A springtime wakeup call: Narcissus mingled with tangy ylang ylang and a pinch of piquant pepper. A beckoning white-petal mélange— orris, jasmine, and linden—and majestic gardenia.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Top notes: narcissus, ylang-ylang and pepper</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;middle notes: jasmine, gardenia, lime (linden) blossom and iris&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>base notes: vetiver, oak moss, oak and musk.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Prepare your noses for a floral blast! This is a potent white floral. So potent that just a drop of this perfume on the back of my hand is equal 10 sprays from a regular EDP in terms of longevity and silage. Which is a good thing, only if you like the perfume. When I tried it in winter, I found that it was too much. I had put my sample away for a better time to use it. Now that it is spring and I am loving florals, I thought it is a nice time for me to try this one out.<br /><br />Central Park West begins with a sharp gardenia note. It is strong and coarse. It takes quite a while to settle down. As it progresses, it softens to a nice white floral, dominant gardenia, some ylang and very little sweetness. The narcissus is soapy and the musk is really clean. The theme of &nbsp;'harsh, clean and soapy' continues but fades into very very powdery florals in the dry down, not quite interesting as the dramatic opening but much more wearable.<br /><br />The overall effect that Central Park West gives is the opposite of what I would expect in a springtime floral perfume. I love my florals big and soft with some smoothness and some sweetness. But I do like the perfume, sans the harsh opening and uninteresting dry down (what is left of it fleetingly somewhere in between to like).&nbsp;</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-38736370062469627242013-06-01T01:22:00.000+01:002013-06-01T01:22:46.801+01:00Penhaligon's Peoneve<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Blie6s3EDU0/UaRmTWPFJsI/AAAAAAAACOM/wEoAHNNLSBA/s1600/IMG_2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Blie6s3EDU0/UaRmTWPFJsI/AAAAAAAACOM/wEoAHNNLSBA/s400/IMG_2521.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="http://penhaligons.co.uk/">Penhaligon's</a> Peoneve</i></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Peoneve opens with a burst of greenness from Violet Leaf absolute which gives way to a heart of luscious Peony, peppery Bulgarian Rose and a powerful white floral note courtesy of Hedione. The sensual base notes add a sense of summer abandon to the scent; earthy Vetiver, mischievous Musk and warm Cashmere Wood."</i></div><br />On my skin, Peoneve opens with a huge blast of rose, a loud and clear rose. It is a very fresh rose, so fresh that it smells like a just picked red rose, with dew drops and the smell of the green herbaceous stem (the Violet Leaf aspect). I don't know about Peonies but it smells like a realistic rose fragrance. At this stage, it is quite strong to the point that makes me doubt if it belongs to the dainty and delicate Penhaligon's house. The rose gives way to luscious jasmine (hedionine aspect probably). The fragrance now mellows and reaffirms that it is actually a Penhaligon. The white florals are dense but soft, very enjoyable. The dry down is all vetiver, very fresh, slightly woody, earthy, a nice accent to the florals, both rose and jasmine.<br /><br />Peoneve is a feminine, fresh fragrance which is both soft and powerful. It goes on with a punch of rose but calms down to a really soft but fresh floral dry down. The lasting power is good, a few drops from my sample vial is lasting a 4+ hours on me. I would consider buying a bottle if in fact I generally liked rose.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-41191477356453491752013-05-30T19:40:00.000+01:002013-05-30T19:40:30.156+01:00In Praise Of Bois Farine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Peanut butter, flour, bread dough or is it exquisite woody iris?! Why, oh why did I not fall head over heels in love with Bois Farine when I first tested it? It was a <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/lartisan-boise-farine.html">long time ago</a> and at that time Bois Farine struck me as unique but I couldn't appreciate its true beauty. Maybe 1 ml sample is too little to form a real opinion of it? Recently I was casually testing perfumes at L'Artisan shop and carried a tester strip of Bois Farine with me. I came home to find that my handbag was smelling of sandalwood, a really stunning, lovely, soft sandalwood. Next time I had the chance to go to the shop (I'm lying, I made a special trip of 100 odd Ks to get there), I bought a bottle of this beautiful perfume.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24HZu_zQJD0/Uaea3PODheI/AAAAAAAACPI/zxJuZ076Ai4/s1600/IMG_2692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24HZu_zQJD0/Uaea3PODheI/AAAAAAAACPI/zxJuZ076Ai4/s640/IMG_2692.jpg" width="353" /></a></div>I get the renowned peanut butter note from it, yes. But the more I wear the perfume, the less I feel the peanut butter's presence. Now that I have worn it many times, my nose entirely skips the peanut butter note. I love peanut butter (so much so that I've stopped buying it because I finish a jar in 2 days), a comforting smell but I am iffy about smelling of it. The fact that I don't get that note after a few wearings has worked in my favour. The flour note that follows, actually smells like bread dough on me is very lovely and comforting. It is like that well kneaded soft, fluffy dough that is ready to go into the oven. The dough note has hints of the nutty peanuts, with a barely there almond/anisic facet but it all just passes to transform into this lovely powdery iris with accentuated sandalwood. The wonderful dry down: so woody, like dry cedar-y sandalwood, laced with a powdery iris.<br /><br />Bois Farine has turned out to be my ideal sandalwood perfume, it is dry but warm, woody like real sandalwood with a feminine iris heart. Bois Farine, in spite of the initial nutty beginning, is not a gourmand at all. It is just this beautiful woody-powdery-floral stuff that is so comforting and a real pleasure wear. Thinking of a backup bottle already.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"There is pleasure in recognising old things from a new viewpoint"&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>-Richard Feynman</i></div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-62618804909859869912013-05-23T21:26:00.001+01:002013-05-24T09:07:35.201+01:00Alkemia: Naiad Ambre III <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNqn5pJ6UVE/UZ5TC0y7API/AAAAAAAACN8/PG0kIun_5S4/s1600/IMG_2569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNqn5pJ6UVE/UZ5TC0y7API/AAAAAAAACN8/PG0kIun_5S4/s400/IMG_2569.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Alkemia Perfumes</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/150229041/ambre-iii-naiad-perfume-oil-orris-iris">Naiad: Ambre&nbsp;III</a>&nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perfume Oil</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"An exquisitely alluring blend of dew soaked orris roots and pale irises bathed in cool rivulets of aquatic amber with a whisper of Japanese incense."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay so, there is much more than a whisper of incense. I smell a lot of incense, a holy and head shop-like incense followed by amber. I have never smelt an 'aquatic amber' before and from what I smell in this, it is really lovely. Amber is a bit balmy but unlike the regular vanillaic/cistus based/powdery/perfume-y amber, it is light. The combination of incense and amber smells unusually fresh and crisp.&nbsp;This phase of&nbsp;strong incense&nbsp;seems endless, but it is kind of addictive and I can't stop smelling it. Underneath this glaring but beautiful incense, emerges the orris root. It is somewhat cold, rooty and metallic, only slightly powdery. As I have mentioned a few times in this blog, pure orris root smells more like paper to me than the famed 'makeup smell'. In Naiad, the orris has that same dry quality of paper but it is faint, like a whisper. I wish it had less of all the ambery incense and more of the orris root smell.&nbsp;In the dry down it smells like soft incense-y orris root.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Naiad, the third perfume in the amber series (I have not smelt others), is based on water fairy/spirits and it is supposed to smell 'watery'. Well, to me, Naiad doesn't really feel aquatic, but it does give a cool sensation. It is fresh, clean, cold and dry. It is an airy and light but a strong perfume nonetheless. I like the headshop nature of incense/amber&nbsp;here. It&nbsp;is a calming/meditative perfume.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Naiad is nothing like I expected. I bought a full size bottle without even sampling it first because Iris/orris based perfumes are hard to come by in the world of indie perfume oils. I expected an Iris perfume, something like my beloved Infusion d'Iris. Naiad turned out to be a totally different perfume but a lovely one albeit. I think my lust for an incense perfume is satisfied with Naiad.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Did I mention the wonderful lasting power? Yeah, Naiad is a beauty!&nbsp;</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-67411205870238945012013-05-12T10:29:00.000+01:002013-05-12T10:29:13.896+01:00A Few Kilians<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I may sound like I am a shill for Kilian perfumes but believe me, I am not. I like the brand, enjoy the perfumes, the counter at Harvey Nichols has very friendly SAs who know their stuff and I like being sent samples of new releases directly to my home. But I don't think the price of £150 for 50 mls is justifiable at all. Fortunately for my wallet, I am not compelled to buy all the perfumes. There are perfumes that leave me unthrilled but those which do thrill me, I am compelled to buy.&nbsp;I am living through refills, decants and samples which doesn't sound too luxe but it is a great way to experience these perfumes and the fact that the brand actually offers to buy these at a lesser price is plus.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Kilian wish list: refills of Love, Straight To Heaven, Good Girl Gone Bad and a big bottle of Back to Black (running out of my refills). I have been holding out on reviewing Straight to Heaven and Love for a long time in the hope that I may end up buying a refill set but it doesn't look like it is going to happen in near future considering my finances. Some concise reviews, just to whet my appetite for these!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5ufAAajqI8/UWZ7DOPU4WI/AAAAAAAACL0/qjz4NcnzSS8/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5ufAAajqI8/UWZ7DOPU4WI/AAAAAAAACL0/qjz4NcnzSS8/s400/IMG_1818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>By Kilian: Flower Of Immortality</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This newest of the Kilian perfumes is very young and fresh. It begins with an effervescent peach note, very crisp and very succulent. I get some sweetness from black currant along with peach making it fruitier and juicier. There is some powderyness from iris giving it a cold, clean vibe. It is clean, peachy and powdery.&nbsp;Somewhere down the line, it turns into a shampoo smell (fresh-out-of-the-salon hair smell). The dry down is all shampoo and it lasts for a long time (10+ hours). If you like fruity perfumes, you'll love it. If you like peachy perfumes, you'll adore it. It is so not for me. I am underwhelmed that it turned out to smell like shampoo.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fjMmvi7jAbs/UWZ7MFKLrtI/AAAAAAAACL8/ZklFT6gT5FE/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fjMmvi7jAbs/UWZ7MFKLrtI/AAAAAAAACL8/ZklFT6gT5FE/s400/IMG_1822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Love&nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Don't Be Shy</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"A Marshmallow inspiration, sweetened with orange blossom from Morocco. At first soft and tender, it unfolds into the intensity that graces truly great seductresses. Top notes of glorious Neroli from Tunisia are like a shy, tentative kiss given by fresh lips. At the heart of the fragrance, Sambac Jasmine caresses skin warm with Turkish Rose and Iris of Florence, reaching ecstasy in the embrace of vanilla and musk."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Kilian's take on the good old marshmallow. I can say that this isn't a regular marshmallow. It is probably the most upscale and exquisite marshmallow that I wish I could put in my hot chocolate. Love is actually a love affair of big white florals with a generous sweet side, sweet in a luscious, creamy way. &nbsp;The flowers are pretty, velvety jasmine, powdery iris and a prominent orange blossom that shines through the whole concoction. But the heart of this fragrance is its sweetness. The burnt sugar, the candy floss, the bubble gum. Oh yes, there is all that. But well tamed and well rounded by the florals. The musky vanilla also makes me think of turkish delight/musk lollies. It dries down into a pleasantly sweet floral, more floral than sweet which I love. When I first wore it, I could have sworn it had incense because of a kind of intensity I got from it, reminiscent of Montale's Mukhallat (but much more likeable and wearable). May be the incense feel I get is from musk or it may be the civet.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overall, Love is an upscale sweet perfume that is ultra feminine and very sophisticated. It is very long lasting and has a huge projection. It is well worth the refill price.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Straight To Heaven</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>White Cristal</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"<i>The alliance with the Patchouli of Indonesia, warm and deep, hides a mystery deepened by Nutmeg from Java, Cedar from Atlas and Brazilian Rosewood. This sensual scent leads us into an artificial paradise of pleasure.</i>"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While Love is an upscale marshmallow, StH is an upscale bay rum scent, just so&nbsp;delightful and refreshing.&nbsp;Bay rum perfumes usually make me think of grogg swilling, unclean sea men smelling of fish. But StH makes me think of a wet, hot guy, just off his yacht,&nbsp;with his white shirt unbuttoned to show off his muscles,&nbsp;walking barefooted on the white Caribbean sands! Sexy! StH opens with the bay rum accord, dry and aromatic, slightly smoky also. The nutmeg is prominent and perks up the rum to make it lighter, fresher. The woodiness, mostly from cedar, anchors the scent down while keeping with its refreshing side. On my skin, patchouli is barely there, if present at all. The dry down is really swoon worthy, a nutmeg spiced bay rum&nbsp;and smells very sexy on my skin. This is one masculine fragrance I would love to wear, which is such a rarity for me. Perfect for sultry beach days!</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-2797601822804571422013-05-12T06:54:00.000+01:002013-05-12T06:54:20.642+01:00Conjure Oils 'El Sol'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVo0-FCNAzM/UOdDffHxt6I/AAAAAAAAB5U/I2k8jDC0Xcw/s1600/IMG_1089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVo0-FCNAzM/UOdDffHxt6I/AAAAAAAAB5U/I2k8jDC0Xcw/s400/IMG_1089.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sample A Day Review: Day#21</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>El Sol (The Sun) &nbsp;</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.conjureoils.com/main.htm" target="_blank">Conjure Oils</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Collection:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.conjureoils.com/loteria_oils.htm" target="_blank">Loteria</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">General Catalogue</div><div style="text-align: center;">Samples (pips) available</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"bright citrus notes and hot clove melt together with a iridescent splash of golden amber. Surround yourself with an irresistible glow"&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">El Sol smells like lemon when wet. Then it turns creamy and becomes a sweet lemon candy. It is still a nice lemon at this point but that changes when amber emerges. Amber is too perfume-y for my liking and makes the lemon a bit bitter. Dry down is a lemony amber, nice-ish but I am not feeling the love.&nbsp; <br />If you like lemony perfumes with depth you may like El Sol. Conjure Oils has some other awesome perfumes. 'Mara' is up there in top 5 of honey scents for me.</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-42827766570159817882013-05-11T16:32:00.001+01:002013-05-11T16:32:47.100+01:00Poison Apple Apothecary 'White Queen's Bouquet'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vtxmyRPZco/UNwh-FTTHWI/AAAAAAAABsQ/NWv6ovkNgYc/s1600/IMG_1025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_vtxmyRPZco/UNwh-FTTHWI/AAAAAAAABsQ/NWv6ovkNgYc/s400/IMG_1025.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sample A Day Review: Day #20</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>White Queen's Bouquet</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoisonApplePotions?ref=top_trail" target="_blank">Poison Apple Apothecary</a></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alice In Wonderland Collection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Limited Edition</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This vial is from 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"A gentle facade of good. What lies under the perfect veneer of the White Queen? Is it too good to be true? Her blend is a lush powdery floral, feminine in every way with notes of Jasmine, Rosehips, Vanilla, and whispery white powder"</i><br /><i><br /></i>This is a lush floral bouquet, very creamy and very soft. Smelt wet, it is a sweet floral. On my skin, it is still sweet but the pretty flowers start to emerge. I pick up some jasmine, but it is mostly a combination of indistinct but nicely blended white florals to my nose. It is not one of those in-your-face, screechy florals. I am amazed by how smooth and velvety it is. I don't get any powder, even if there is any, it is gently mingled with the sweet florals. Vanilla is the reason for how soft the perfume smells. The dry down is of beautiful creamy flowers, very soothing and very feminine. It wears beautifully on me but stays close to the skin. Lasts a few hours too. This one needs watching out for in case it is re-released. If so, grabbing a full bottle for sure.</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-89240196148570301432013-05-05T12:30:00.000+01:002013-05-05T12:30:12.269+01:00Birthday!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yesterday was my birthday, May The Fourth and all. Not too thrilled about it and not too thrilled about life in general. I am going through an uncomfortable phase where there is neither money nor career and lack of stability (constant moving from one place to another) is making me tired and anxious. That is why I haven't been blogging much lately. Instead of focusing on all the things that is making me go nuts, I'll just focus on things that's making me happy.<br /><br />We went to Scotland for a week, an early birthday present from my husband. It was a wonderful.<br />I got a few thrifty birthday gifts for myself, some Chanel makeup and Penhaligon's perfume.<br /><br />I redeemed my Boots points for Chanel makeup, which means I got the foundation for free! I think&nbsp;<i style="font-weight: bold;">Vitalumiere Aqua </i>is worth every rave review on the internet. It is light but gives an ideal coverage and a lovely natural finish. I was matched with B50 (I am NW30 in MAC) and it looks like second skin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXy4e1csIY0/UYWH3T5hfSI/AAAAAAAACMo/b2fyeOcxeV4/s1600/IMG_2418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXy4e1csIY0/UYWH3T5hfSI/AAAAAAAACMo/b2fyeOcxeV4/s400/IMG_2418.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B50<br />Chanel Les Beiges powder in 40</td></tr></tbody></table>I also got the limited edition&nbsp;<i><b>Chanel</b></i>&nbsp;<b><i>Les Beiges powder</i></b> in the shade 40. I think it is something about the undertone that makes it a tad more golden for my skin. I can use it as a very subtle bronzer or for contouring. But it has a nice matte finish, no shimmer, just a glow. It feels so luxurious on my skin. It smells like the perfume Les Beige from Chanel's Exclusif range. It is a lovely honeyed floral, a very soft and gentle smell. I love the packaging too. It is something of a keepsake thing. Perfect gift really.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-53Z6SliCGu8/UYWIYWg63bI/AAAAAAAACMw/aavO1Q4c6Nk/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-53Z6SliCGu8/UYWIYWg63bI/AAAAAAAACMw/aavO1Q4c6Nk/s400/IMG_2421.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel Les Beiges Powder</td></tr></tbody></table>Continuing my thrift journey, I got a 100ml splash bottle of <i><b>Penhaligon's Ellenisia </b></i>at the outlet in Bicester Village for a meagre ₤15! Ellenisia is so gorgeous. It is a lush white floral with a prominent and natural tuberose presence. It is so feminine and elegant.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EL3PelSoKCc/UYWItQlyDQI/AAAAAAAACM4/V2rrYCWUzc8/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EL3PelSoKCc/UYWItQlyDQI/AAAAAAAACM4/V2rrYCWUzc8/s400/IMG_2429.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br />The gift that made me feel the most special was this lovely Dragonfly broach sent to my Nadja (La Domna) and it is handmade by her. I love the delicate gold and black wiring on it.&nbsp;It&nbsp;looks good worn with any outfit. You can buy it from her Etsy store <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreamSand">here.</a>&nbsp;Thank you Nadja!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fkg4Cx3c9tU/UYWIzTg9BxI/AAAAAAAACNA/HhuCrAu1zQc/s1600/IMG_2426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fkg4Cx3c9tU/UYWIzTg9BxI/AAAAAAAACNA/HhuCrAu1zQc/s640/IMG_2426.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On my&nbsp;<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/well-weve-come-this-far-without-amnesia.html" target="_blank">last birthday</a>, I wished to go back in time to relive my childhood. That wish really did come true when I visited my parents last year (and I didn't have to travel at the speed of light to the edge of the solar sysytem and back again!). It really felt like my childhood with so much love and care. I wish that this kind of happiness repeats again and again.</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-53202119100991347642013-04-19T11:53:00.000+01:002013-04-19T11:53:02.639+01:00Lovely Smellies From Lovely People!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank you Amanda (<a href="http://irishandmadesoaps.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Iris Handmade Soaps</a>), for sending me your soaps. I feel so special to try them! And for Solstice Scents samples, they are all so good!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NN9cK4zh57U/UXEe04tIZeI/AAAAAAAACMU/U5l2p5nknBg/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NN9cK4zh57U/UXEe04tIZeI/AAAAAAAACMU/U5l2p5nknBg/s640/IMG_1867.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dee</a>&nbsp;(<a href="http://365daysofsmells.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">365 Dyas of Smells</a>),&nbsp;for spoiling me some awesome perfumes!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ipo0dm4h-G4/UXEeft5NWCI/AAAAAAAACMM/GCMUJNxd0GA/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="609" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ipo0dm4h-G4/UXEeft5NWCI/AAAAAAAACMM/GCMUJNxd0GA/s640/IMG_1849.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;These two packages totally made my day. I am so grateful for the friends I have on interwebs. Thanks again ladies ♥</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-77043131176402912532013-04-09T23:52:00.000+01:002013-04-10T20:57:12.411+01:00Perfume Oil Collection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, here goes my indie perfume oil collection!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see my collection as it was last year<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/perfume-oil-inventory.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;here</a>. Compare for yourself how much I have let go of and how much I have gained. The links under the picture take you to the review.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-bMV-AZkek/UUwXt108sYI/AAAAAAAACFE/-ecLZkFJ0cM/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0-bMV-AZkek/UUwXt108sYI/AAAAAAAACFE/-ecLZkFJ0cM/s400/IMG_1627.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haus Of Gloi: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/more-honey-scents-hog-haee-possets-love.html" target="_blank">Honey Tree,</a> Vice, Troika, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/haus-of-gloi-autumn-ghost-puffs-pixie.html" target="_blank">Licorice Chew</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hpSbk_RxtE/UUwXxKiIS9I/AAAAAAAACFM/js3wgNIwfkQ/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hpSbk_RxtE/UUwXxKiIS9I/AAAAAAAACFM/js3wgNIwfkQ/s400/IMG_1628.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/ava-luxe.html" target="_blank">Ava Luxe: Loukhoum, Love's True Bluish Light</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cCtQf7bvAmA/UUwYCA3qRaI/AAAAAAAACFU/lfChFvClu-A/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cCtQf7bvAmA/UUwYCA3qRaI/AAAAAAAACFU/lfChFvClu-A/s400/IMG_1633.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/morbid-merrier-reviews-horseman-delina.html" target="_blank">The Morbid The Merrier:</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/morbid-merrier-reviews-horseman-delina.html" target="_blank">Horman, Delina</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8oDqxzBMD8/UUwXr6LQ7UI/AAAAAAAACE8/kMIJp17Mp70/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8oDqxzBMD8/UUwXr6LQ7UI/AAAAAAAACE8/kMIJp17Mp70/s400/IMG_1629.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BPAL: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/bpal-thirteen-feb-09.html" target="_blank">13 August '08</a>,<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/some-bpals-that-didnt-work-for-me.html" target="_blank"> Gaillo</a>,<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/german-expressionist-horror-bpal.html" target="_blank"> German Expressionist Horror</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I0k9izVcVNY/UUwYIGSQwEI/AAAAAAAACFc/YSNwbPdK8Fg/s1600/IMG_1632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I0k9izVcVNY/UUwYIGSQwEI/AAAAAAAACFc/YSNwbPdK8Fg/s400/IMG_1632.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BPAL: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/liquorice-perfumes.html" target="_blank">Absinthe</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/bpal-black-phoenix.html" target="_blank">Black Phoenix</a>, Bliss, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/bpal-enraged-orangutan-musk-fae-rose.html" target="_blank">Fae</a>, Kali, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/bpal-enraged-orangutan-musk-fae-rose.html" target="_blank">Rose Red</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JUC3sI7ypmQ/UUwYZj1t7TI/AAAAAAAACFk/B8UciQkpfbQ/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JUC3sI7ypmQ/UUwYZj1t7TI/AAAAAAAACFk/B8UciQkpfbQ/s400/IMG_1634.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BPAL: Snake Oil, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/bpal-womb-furie.html" target="_blank">Womb Furie</a> (and back ups)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8QwYJr13H1g/UUwYi9-ZPTI/AAAAAAAACFs/_7vJFPMHrxQ/s1600/IMG_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8QwYJr13H1g/UUwYi9-ZPTI/AAAAAAAACFs/_7vJFPMHrxQ/s400/IMG_1635.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BPAL: Jerusalem Cherry Honey, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/some-bpals-that-didnt-work-for-me.html" target="_blank">Paduan Killer Swarm</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/bpal-rappaccinis-apiary-honeys-daphne.html" target="_blank">Hemlock Honey, Oleander Honey</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZt-IjBR73I/UUwY6gfdi3I/AAAAAAAACF0/3RlibasIJwU/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FZt-IjBR73I/UUwY6gfdi3I/AAAAAAAACF0/3RlibasIJwU/s400/IMG_1636.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BPAL:<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/bptp-weenie-slaugh-muscle-rub-smell.html" target="_blank"> Slaugh</a>, Pomegranate IV, Pumpkin Latte,<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/bpal-boo-weenie-0910.html" target="_blank"> Boo!</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/bpal-10-weenie-ghoulish.html" target="_blank">Ghoulish</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPxPYKS9L34/UUwY92zYk8I/AAAAAAAACF8/kAttqr9iArY/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPxPYKS9L34/UUwY92zYk8I/AAAAAAAACF8/kAttqr9iArY/s400/IMG_1637.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BPAL: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/bpal-red-lantern.html" target="_blank">Red Lantern</a>. <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/some-bpals-that-didnt-work-for-me.html" target="_blank">Khajuraho, Berry Moon</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/kitchen-smells-cardamom.html" target="_blank">Gypsy</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/bpal-enraged-orangutan-musk-fae-rose.html" target="_blank">Enraged Orangutan Musk</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/smut-2012-black-phoenix-alchemy-lab.html" target="_blank">Smut</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CXF_RHg-oGY/UUwZBZ0zfsI/AAAAAAAACGE/PxNrKitzFN8/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CXF_RHg-oGY/UUwZBZ0zfsI/AAAAAAAACGE/PxNrKitzFN8/s400/IMG_1638.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-garden-bath-chocolate-passion.html" target="_blank">The Garden Bath: Chocolate Passion</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/nocturne-alchemy-desire-of-queen-and.html" target="_blank">Nocturne Alchemy: Netherworld</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/smell-bent-gelty-pleasures.html" target="_blank">Smell Bent: Gelty Pleasures</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/darling-clandestine-bitsy-vials-part-1.html" target="_blank">Darling Clandestine: Maudlin And Bedlam</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-CkWYcDj1A/UUwZNnRPXII/AAAAAAAACGM/00WyHOrnBRQ/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r-CkWYcDj1A/UUwZNnRPXII/AAAAAAAACGM/00WyHOrnBRQ/s400/IMG_1639.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/arabian-perfume-oils-what-doesnt-kill.html" target="_blank">Ajmal: Liquid Gold, Mukhallat Burj</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/more-honey-scents-hog-haee-possets-love.html" target="_blank">Heaven and Earth Essentials: Pumpkin Honey</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/more-honey-scents-hog-haee-possets-love.html" target="_blank">Violette Market: Watermelon Honey</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/conjure-oils-devil-made-me-do-it.html" target="_blank">Conjure Oils: Mara</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/more-honey-scents-hog-haee-possets-love.html" target="_blank">Possets: Honey</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hFG0sAzPhUg/UUwbhv3mLYI/AAAAAAAACGs/eJgfeXBZvaY/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hFG0sAzPhUg/UUwbhv3mLYI/AAAAAAAACGs/eJgfeXBZvaY/s400/IMG_1666.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villainess: Jaimahal</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vPiQbUGkZac/UQv_OGvWfgI/AAAAAAAACC8/UH7P6mUfVm0/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vPiQbUGkZac/UQv_OGvWfgI/AAAAAAAACC8/UH7P6mUfVm0/s320/IMG_1279.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/twyla-perfumes-haul-reviews.html" target="_blank">Twyla Perfumes: Slammerkin, Milk Flower, Spirit Of Christmas Past</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPJ4yX6hIzg/UUwZ2LPod5I/AAAAAAAACGU/otonvytfuj0/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPJ4yX6hIzg/UUwZ2LPod5I/AAAAAAAACGU/otonvytfuj0/s400/IMG_1717.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/flourish-perfume-oils-review.htmlhttp://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/flourish-perfume-oils-review.html" target="_blank">Firebird: Almond Milk</a>, <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-smell-of-smoke-firebird-woodsmoke.html" target="_blank">Woodsmoke Vanilla</a><br /><a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/more-honey-scents-hog-haee-possets-love.html" target="_blank">Love Potion: Honey Ho, Hot Honeyed Fig</a><br />Hayward Enterprises dupe oil: L de Lolita Lempica</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Non Indie Oils:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nywdpjc7Vqw/UUwZ6OBnZxI/AAAAAAAACGc/7VBiLEEsZ_w/s1600/IMG_1719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nywdpjc7Vqw/UUwZ6OBnZxI/AAAAAAAACGc/7VBiLEEsZ_w/s400/IMG_1719.JPG" width="383" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiehl's <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/crush-and-disillusionment-kiehls.html" target="_blank">Musk</a> and <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/dupe-alert-kiehls-amber-essence-oil-vs.html" target="_blank">Amber</a><br />Mor: Belladona<br />Natio: Champa Attar</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGnXbg3gn3k/UUwZ6jktc7I/AAAAAAAACGg/1E_ADCuxrRY/s1600/IMG_1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGnXbg3gn3k/UUwZ6jktc7I/AAAAAAAACGg/1E_ADCuxrRY/s400/IMG_1722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Body Shop: White Musk, Juba Juba</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, all my samples!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89hhIgZK7_o/UUwb-fawJDI/AAAAAAAACG0/tOl31XIYcbg/s1600/IMG_1712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89hhIgZK7_o/UUwb-fawJDI/AAAAAAAACG0/tOl31XIYcbg/s640/IMG_1712.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found these boxes at the stationery shop (the pink and purple boxes). They are perfect for keeping sample vials. The two round boxes are empty body butter ones which I find very useful too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ETA: This is where I store my perfume oils. All the bottles just fit in one plastic box and it doesn't even take much space to store. It is tucked away in a cupboard shelf, safe and snug!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_T43vcRRLpQ/UWXDXRLvgoI/AAAAAAAACLk/9jEx8j5OvHI/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_T43vcRRLpQ/UWXDXRLvgoI/AAAAAAAACLk/9jEx8j5OvHI/s320/IMG_1714.JPG" width="229" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-65380484371030929152013-04-01T15:53:00.002+01:002013-04-01T16:11:52.191+01:00Frederic Malle: L'Eau D'Hiver<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-od4nber0w4U/UVk-uTLUTxI/AAAAAAAACKs/Swby5QuUtBY/s1600/Calvin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-od4nber0w4U/UVk-uTLUTxI/AAAAAAAACKs/Swby5QuUtBY/s640/Calvin.gif" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring, the doomsday for snowmen<br />Source: gocomics.com</td></tr></tbody></table>L'eau D'Hiver, 'the water of winter' is more of a 'waiting for daffodils' kind of scent&nbsp;than a cold winter one. It makes me think of the last few days of winter: the thawing snow, days getting longer, anticipation of spring flowers and warmth slowly creeping into chilly days.&nbsp;L'eau D'Hiver is so delicate and fragile&nbsp;like freshly melted snow.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cCAUUmAczMk/UVlVUrlOEqI/AAAAAAAACK8/72oUsbx9rQw/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cCAUUmAczMk/UVlVUrlOEqI/AAAAAAAACK8/72oUsbx9rQw/s640/IMG_1749.JPG" width="208" /></a></div><i>"A fragrance entirely one's own –– clean, crisp, but &nbsp;also warm, an endless source of reassurance. The transparence of water binds with the softness of white heliotrope, iris and honey for the gentlest composition imaginable." <a href="http://www.fredericmalle.com/main.cfm#!/scents/?sub=76&amp;subsub=90" target="_blank">Frederic Malle</a></i><br /><i><br /></i>This is my first close encounter with Heliotrope, both as a note and otherwise, not having smelt the flowers in real life. I find Heliotrope in this to be quite powdery but with a 'bite' of something anisic/almond/cherry-like. Not that these are palpably present here but I get that sensation, perhaps due to the Heliotropin. It reminds me of the beginning of Lolita Lempica, only heliotrope takes a fresh powdery direction in this rather than a totally different sweet one that it takes in Lolita Lempica. The heliotrope blends with clean, cold Iris and fresh, green Angelica giving the illusion of a cool water. It is transparent indeed.&nbsp;It is powdery&nbsp;but the powder is so gentle, more like pollen covering the dew laden fresh flowers. In the dry down the heliotrope diffuses and remains as a soft powder, blended with cold, dry iris and even softer musk. This stage it reminds me of Infusion d'Iris of Prada which I love with all my heart but L'eau D'Hiver is crisper, more delicate and more watery.<br /><br />L'Eau D'Hiver is a real pleasure to wear. It is light, sheer and gracefully feminine. It stays for a long time on me but stays close to the skin making it even more delicate and enjoyable. It is a perfect springtime perfume. I can see myself wearing this a lot in this transition month from cold to warm weather and also for much needed freshness in the heat. I am loving every drop of my 5ml miniature that came in a coffret. If I could afford, I would buy a full bottle right away.&nbsp;</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-5244775689449847252013-03-27T08:24:00.000+00:002013-03-27T08:24:13.106+00:00S-A-D #19 : Sweet Anthem 'Miranda'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-XaRK8lfK8/UVF2dfAle7I/AAAAAAAACJs/xlq1TOP8dj0/s1600/IMG_1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2-XaRK8lfK8/UVF2dfAle7I/AAAAAAAACJs/xlq1TOP8dj0/s400/IMG_1748.JPG" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sample-A-Day Review: Day 19</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miranda</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sweetanthemperfumes.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Anthem</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the vault (past LE)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"We fall, but our souls are flying. A baleful blend of banded peppers and woods, tragically impaled with bloodshot immortelle blossoms.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Notes: Black Agar, Cocoa Absolute, Immortelle, Pink Pepper, White Agar, White Pepper"</i></div><i><br /></i> Smelling directly from the sample, I get pepper. It is very fresh but&nbsp;a bit sharp. Dabbed in the back of my hand, pepper is more noticeable and there is undeniable presence of agar wood. The oud smells rich and kind of comforting actually. Oud and pepper, once they settle, become milder and gentler leaving behind a fragrant woody aroma. There is only a little chocolate, which smells more like white chocolate rather than dark or sweet chocolate. The hay-like immortelle adds a soft base. Chocolate and Immortelle don't add any sweetness per se but diffuse the harshness of peppery oud. I like this contrast very much. Everything comes together in the dry down which is a spiced soft aromatic oud.<br /><br />Miranda is leans more towards a masculine fragrance. I can see myself wearing it but it would suit a man better. It must be the pepper and oud giving that vibe. Oud in this, like in many other Sweet Anthem perfumes, is light and gentle (plus doesn't give me a headache). It is a limited edition and no longer available for purchase.</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-68970407300294114092013-03-24T14:10:00.000+00:002013-03-24T14:10:38.193+00:00The Alchemical Phoenixes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0nBihGlTD_E/UU6-wDKvU9I/AAAAAAAACJc/WYAY21t0ZYk/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0nBihGlTD_E/UU6-wDKvU9I/AAAAAAAACJc/WYAY21t0ZYk/s640/IMG_1571.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><a href="http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/welcome.html" target="_blank">Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab</a>&nbsp;comes up with limited blends of perfume oils every year to commemorate the Lab's anniversary. There are so many 'Phoenixes' which is a reminder of how long BPAL has been around.&nbsp;These are hard to find and quite a hit with collectors.&nbsp;I could get my hands on some decants and sniffies, thanks to lovely&nbsp;<a href="http://365daysofsmells.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dee</a>.&nbsp;It is really nice to know and experience what they smell like though I wouldn't be hunting these down to get full bottles. Here are my brief thoughts on the Phoenixes.<br /><br /><i><b>Copper Phoenix</b></i><br /><i>BPAL Anniversary&nbsp;</i><i>2009/2010</i><br /><i>Limited Edition</i><br /><i>Rose-infused dark amber, with sweet orange, honey, cardamom, patchouli, apricot, pink pepper, and red sandalwood</i><br />in the imp, it is fresh and sweet, not sugary-sweet but a freshly-squeezed-orange sweet. Orange is refreshing with a dash of honey and hint of fresh pink pepper. It dries down to a combination of powdery amber and sandalwood while still retaining the freshness of sweet orange. A lovely combination.<br /><br /><i><b>Red Phoenix</b></i><br /><i>BPAL anniversary 2005</i><br /><i>Limited Edition</i><br /><i>A celebration of three years of decadence, determination, death and rebirth. Red musk, tonka, Chinese cassia, mandarin, patchouli, benzoin, wild plum and tobacco</i><br />A very prominent musk to begin with, the Lab's famous Red Musk note. Rich deep and very sensual. On the skin a smoky tobacco note emerges followed by a flash of something a light spicy note which could be the cinnamon-y cassia bark. The cinnamon becomes very smooth and blends well into the mildly boozed benzoin. The dry down is a cinammony musk, very warm, kind of delicious!<br /><br /><i><b>Wood Phoenix</b></i><br /><i>BPAL Anniversary 2008</i><br /><i>Limited Edition</i><br /><i>Flexibility, cooperation, expansiveness, and altruism: Chinese musk and five woods with newly budding bamboo shoots, hyssop, chamomile, pink clove, magnolia, walnut, and fig.</i><br />A sweet and fresh musk in the imp. On the skin it becomes very green. I get bamboo shoots and green fig with a blast of magnolia. It is a fresh green clean floral and the musk element adds a perfume-y dimension to it. It is very nice and reminds me of Sweet Anthem's Anastasia.<br /><br /><i><b>Water Phoenix</b></i><br /><i>BPAL Anniversary 2008</i><br /><i>Limited Edition</i><br /><i>Compassion, eloquence, introspection: Chinese musk and rain, with salty oceanic notes, frankincense, juniper berry, lily of the valley, lavender, cinquefoil, and sweet pea.</i><br />Smells very fresh in the vial. It does smell like rain and salt water. Incense adds a cool touch. The floral element is nice though I can't pick out any flower in particular. The juniper berry is a bit much for my taste and same with lavender but I understand why they are here and they do blend well with rest of the fresh concoction. It is a fresh skin scent and a delightful one. It is like the upscale and well made version of generic 'China Rain' like perfumes. Perfect for summer.<br /><br /><i><b>Phoenix In Summer</b></i><br /><i>Seasonal Phoenix 2010/11</i><br /><i>Limited Edition</i><br /><i>The Phoenix soars through a summer thunderstorm: Nepalese amber, galangal, red musk, saffron, ozone, and the scent of hot rain striking pavement</i><br />I only have a sniffie of this, which means it is an empty vial just enough to get the feel of the scent. It smells powdery in the vial, that must be the amber. &nbsp;It does smell somewhat like cement/footpath but it is too little smelling experience to put a finger on it. There must have been an interesting scent in this vial.<br /><div><br /></div><i><b>Pink Phoenix</b></i><br /><i>BPAL Anniversary 2005</i><br /><i>Limited Edition</i><br /><i>Silliness in the extreme. Vanilla bean, honeycomb, sugared pear, sweet pea and a dribble of strawberry</i><br />Another sniffie thingie. This is very sweet in the vial. Powdery honey, very juicy strawberries. It smells somewhat like strawberry coulis syruped in honey instead of sugar. It is not repulsively sweet though. If I had a bottle, I would go with an occasional dab or two.</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-28598805656130127612013-03-23T11:28:00.000+00:002013-03-23T11:28:40.093+00:00Makeup Collection: Blushes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Makeup and perfume are my two obsessions. I talk almost exclusively about perfumes in this blog but there is less of makeup talk. Perhaps, I should talk more about makeup. Last year when I moved continents, I gave away/sold almost 1/3rd of my makeup. Now I am left with a manageable stash. My makeup buying has reduced a lot. In the past 6 months, I have only bought about £50 worth makeup, mostly essentials. It makes me want to use the stuff I already have and love.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been meaning to do makeup inventory posts (inspired by <a href="http://beautyreductionista.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Liz</a>). Look forward to some photo heavy posts in future.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here goes my blush collection. Be warned, you may see a lot of peachy shades!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LyPDUC24Q7c/UU1uxUnMw6I/AAAAAAAACII/hlaA8sUCTaM/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LyPDUC24Q7c/UU1uxUnMw6I/AAAAAAAACII/hlaA8sUCTaM/s400/IMG_1740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Nye Cream Blush in Dusty Pink<br />Becca Beach Tint in Grapefruit</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Ben Nye Cream Blush is super pigmented like all other Ben Nye things. Just a dab on each cheek will do and being creamy it spreads well to give a powdery finish.&nbsp;</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Becca Beach Tint is sheerer and ideal for a subtle, barely there flushed look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ph5mwpv0sro/UU2IkftkErI/AAAAAAAACJM/05yottY-XpU/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ph5mwpv0sro/UU2IkftkErI/AAAAAAAACJM/05yottY-XpU/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NARS Multiple in Angelika&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Angelika is a bright pink with gold bits in it. It is a great shade when used light handedly. I don't quite like the texture of this. It feels a bit waxy and I prefer creamy.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vcud459kIg/UU1z2X0-FkI/AAAAAAAACIU/MBhhIRTszC0/s1600/IMG_1642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vcud459kIg/UU1z2X0-FkI/AAAAAAAACIU/MBhhIRTszC0/s400/IMG_1642.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol<br />Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks in Nectar and Pink</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;">Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol is luminous and gives a great colour. It borders a bronzish red which may look ruddy if not blended well.</span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;">Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are my favourite cheek products ever! Nectar is a great peachy/coral shade and love it. Pink is more of a highlight shade for my skin tone.</span><br style="text-align: center;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-bzKDauBNA/UU1z7dG7fNI/AAAAAAAACIc/T3Dp6-00F6E/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-bzKDauBNA/UU1z7dG7fNI/AAAAAAAACIc/T3Dp6-00F6E/s400/IMG_1650.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iNuovi Thumbelina (yay, hit the pan!)<br />Natio in Peach Glow<br />L'Oreal True Match Blush in Rosewood</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">iNuovi and Natio are both almost the same shade of peach but iNuovi has more shimmer and Natio is more of a sheen. L'Oreal Rosewood shows up on my skintone and makes me look like I am wearing blush but in a good way.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U80QvIeq2e8/UU10BEXOtII/AAAAAAAACIk/xJiI_9Ebnvs/s1600/IMG_1652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U80QvIeq2e8/UU10BEXOtII/AAAAAAAACIk/xJiI_9Ebnvs/s400/IMG_1652.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Springsheen<br />Sleek blush in Rose Gold</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I love this MAC blush, very natural looking on me and quite glowy. Sleek Rose Gold is my poor girl's substitute for NARS Orgasm. I like this and have no plans of buying Orgasm anytime soon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkNcZx-ER3E/UU10GdKo9lI/AAAAAAAACIs/M4ltaMlCuQw/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gkNcZx-ER3E/UU10GdKo9lI/AAAAAAAACIs/M4ltaMlCuQw/s400/IMG_1654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clinique Quick Blush In-A-Rush-Blush<br />L'Oreal Blush Minerals Soft Peach</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Clinique Quick blush is actually great for handbag and it doesn't spill. The colour is again a peachy shade. I am not too fond of the L'Oreal one but I do use it because it is a safe shade.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rafuQr7pf9o/UU10IoSYOoI/AAAAAAAACI0/ADB_3WnLtpI/s1600/IMG_1644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rafuQr7pf9o/UU10IoSYOoI/AAAAAAAACI0/ADB_3WnLtpI/s400/IMG_1644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sassy Mineral Blushes<span style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Love these blushes. They are have really fine shimmer and nicely pigmented. Celebrity is my most worn one.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FD0ki5hlD20/UU10Kknx68I/AAAAAAAACI8/eakxUkejC88/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FD0ki5hlD20/UU10Kknx68I/AAAAAAAACI8/eakxUkejC88/s400/IMG_1648.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benefit Thrrrob and Coralista</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;">Thrrrob is more of a highlighter for my colouring. It has a lavender/pinkish hue which actually brightens my skin. Coralista is beautiful peachy gold and smells like passion fruit! It is the best complement blush with any bronzer.</span><br style="text-align: center;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vllgj82-DcA/UUwgUTQsjDI/AAAAAAAACHI/lRCk8v7duYc/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vllgj82-DcA/UUwgUTQsjDI/AAAAAAAACHI/lRCk8v7duYc/s400/IMG_1646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L.A. Minerals Flushed and Pink Du Jour</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">These are my newest addition. I think they are okay. Flushed is a bit chalky but Pink Du Jour is soft and powdery. Both have nice pigment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">And that's it! I know the photos are not the best but it is the best I can get in the dim, glum weather.&nbsp;</span>Next up: Bronzers!</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-78699699640384699882013-03-22T23:31:00.000+00:002013-03-22T23:31:01.174+00:00Zara Chypre Floral<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlFbOG6Vu3M/UUrfT3Bmr5I/AAAAAAAACEs/27Jr-Vud_kg/s1600/IMG_1567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlFbOG6Vu3M/UUrfT3Bmr5I/AAAAAAAACEs/27Jr-Vud_kg/s400/IMG_1567.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have recently learnt that saving money is for contingencies and not future splurges on luxuries. When the proverbial rainy day comes, it pours! My plan of getting myself a bottle of Narciso Rodriguez For Her has been replaced by this humble looking 5 quid bottle of Zara Chypre Floral.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Zara perfumes have always fascinated me. I absolutely loved Guiac Wood and Ambar which were a steal for the money. Some perfumes targeted for women seem to have a sugary base underneath the synthetic florals. Some exceptions of course, like Zara White, Jasmine Musc are very pretty perfumes. The trouble&nbsp;though&nbsp;is that the perfumes keep coming and going and it is hard to track them down.&nbsp;Last week, I found myself at Zara trying some perfumes (without even looking at clothes) and spotted a gem. As soon as I tried Chypre Floral I was reminded of Narciso Rodriguez For Her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The two Chypres in my collection that I love and adore are the fruity Badgley Mischka and the stunning Veneta Bottega. I feel all fancy that I know what a Chypre is but just because I know what it means doesn't imply I like it. The traditional Chypres don't really move me. They somehow seem cold, which may very well be the reason why they are well liked. My Chypre preference lies with the genre of newer ones than the traditional ones. The jury might still be out on whether modern perfumes like NR For Her should be called a Chypre without having anything to do with structure involving Oakmoss and stuff but terminologies apart, I do love the floral musk part of it.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just like NR For Her, Zara's Chypre Floral has nothing to do with traditional Chypres or even traditional Chypre Florals. It resembles NR For Her very much and the&nbsp;common factor is the incandescent floral musk. It is more in the vein of the EDP. There is a prominent but very elegant rose (similar rose to MFK Lumiere Noir for men, same perfumer), soft white florals and abundance of musk with hints of patchouli. The musk is slightly animalic, but warm and pretty. It is a very sophisticated feeling wearing this fragrance, elegant and feminine.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While Zara's Chypre Floral is similar to NR For Her, the quality for the price is reflected in the longevity. It stays for a few hours but somehow seems watered down in the wrist to wrist comparison with the NR. I am wearing this a lot since I bought it and drained about half the bottle on myself already. It is a great substitute without feeling the pinch of spending more than ₤50 on a bottle of perfume. I may soon have had enough of this and may cross NR off my wish list altogether. That is a saving of ₤50 there.</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-51000405094719583372013-03-10T11:51:00.001+00:002013-03-10T11:56:37.082+00:00The Body Shop: Shea EDT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you are wondering where I've been, well, I moved house and I am trying to survive settling in a tiny village on the edge of English Countryside. I am&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/kettle_logic" target="_blank">tweeting</a> again (as Kettle Logic, something Freud said). I am slowly back to blogging and I do have a lot of blog reading to catch up on. I am also watching my spending because our unorganised move really took it out of us this time. As a little indulgence to preserve my sanity,&nbsp;I bought this perfume yesterday at The Body Shop outlet store for less than a fiver.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNTE354bCtc/UTxdY6FT5TI/AAAAAAAACEU/dQK9ZSFqJzo/s1600/BE-tdqLCcAA9tNd.jpg-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LNTE354bCtc/UTxdY6FT5TI/AAAAAAAACEU/dQK9ZSFqJzo/s400/BE-tdqLCcAA9tNd.jpg-large.jpeg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I love the smell of shea butter and TBS captures the smell so well in the products. Shea range of products is my favourite from TBS. Not even TBS's cult Vanilla compares to the beauty of Shea, which may I add, is a bold statement as Vanilla used to be my go to perfume for comfort but is getting a tad too sweet for my taste these days.<br /><br />Shea EDT is a delight, comfort in a bottle.&nbsp;It is delicate and refreshing but also luxurious and soothing.&nbsp;It is a simple, soft fragrance of pure shea butter itself. It is very light, not too creamy or sweet and borders a subtle nutty smell. This lies on a bed of soft woods which 'ups' the utter gorgeousness that the smell of shea is. It is so gentle and understated that it can never be overindulged in.<br /><br />The EDT is better than the body mist in terms of staying power. A few generous spritzes of EDT last me a couple of hours. But I can see myself layering this perfume with Shea body butter or whipped lotion. If TBS ever brings out a concentrated perfume oil in the smell of Shea, I'll be drowning it!</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-35400097771737250812013-02-06T19:36:00.000+00:002013-02-10T23:13:16.109+00:00Penhaligon's Lily & Spice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h9TvPAM89ic/UPbzrFURW2I/AAAAAAAAB_k/R3qBMa6tIaE/s1600/IMG_1196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h9TvPAM89ic/UPbzrFURW2I/AAAAAAAAB_k/R3qBMa6tIaE/s400/IMG_1196.jpg" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Before I talk about Lily &amp; Spice, I have to talk about the difference between 'Lily' and 'Lily Of The Valley'. It recently occurred to me that there is in fact a difference in the smell of the two. When I was buying Lily &amp; Spice, they didn't have a tester in store and the lady at Penhaligon's counter gave me a tester of Lily Of The Valley to try instead. LOTV smelt nothing like my memory of Lily &amp; Spice. The two were different fragrances. At that moment I had a mental flash of every lily and LOTV perfumes that I had ever smelt. I realised that lily is in fact different from LOTV.&nbsp;I am a bit slow to realise it. Better late than never, I guess. Read more about LOTV&nbsp;<a href="http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/distant-cousins-lily-of-valley-lilypart.html" target="_blank">here</a> and&nbsp;Lily&nbsp;<a href="http://widget5.linkwithin.com/redirect?url=http%3A//perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2009/05/distant-cousins-lily-of-valley-lily.html&amp;vars=%5B%22http%3A//perfumeshrine.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/distant-cousins-lily-of-valley-lilypart.html%22%2C%2054589%2C%200%2C%20%22http%3A//perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2009/05/distant-cousins-lily-of-valley-lilypart.html%22%2C%208123816%2C%200%2C%208123786%5D&amp;ts=1359306852008" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I am familiar with the smell of lilies (from smelling the flower directly). I have never smelt the LOTV flowers. It has got a lot to do with the fact that I grew up in the sub tropics and LOTV is mostly found in temperate climates. But I have experienced LOTV in a lot of perfumes. My reference perfume for LOTV is <i>Guerlain's Muguet</i>. LOTV in it smells green, fresh, a little soapy and very feminine. It is a fresh outdoor smell, like the smell of spring meadows and flowers, very English Countryside-y. Lily on the other hand, smells closer to the 'white floral' smell. It is delicate, creamy, vanilla-like white floral smell. Then there are different kinds of lilies like Tiger, Stargazer, Easter, Ginger and I don't know how different they are from each other.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lily &amp; Spice is gorgeous! It begins with the creamy white floral note of lily. It is very soft and gentle. I'll&nbsp;cautiously&nbsp;use the word <i>aquatic</i> because it is neither 'wet' nor it is 'marine' like FM's Lys Mediterranee. It is light and cool but not transparent enough to miss the presence of the beautiful flower. There is greenness but not that soapy greenness of LOTV but a fresh and rounded greenness. The spice is not that distinct and ii is a part of the floral smell. The spice actually brings the lily to life. The lily is balmy and creamy but quite fresh and feminine. It stays true to the flower throughout on my skin leaving a light musky drydown of pure gorgeousness.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is very cold outside and no sign of spring yet but I am craving for this perfume everyday. I generally am drenched in heavy ambers and vanillas in the winter but the fact that I am attracted to Lily &amp; Spice so much says a lot about my changing tastes. I am loving florals these days, lighter the better.&nbsp;</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-80360935142784481832013-02-03T17:35:00.000+00:002013-02-03T17:37:26.904+00:00BPAL Lupercalias Of The Past<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Upon the release of <a href="http://www.blackphoenixgazette.com/?p=1910" target="_blank">BPAL's Lupercalia</a>&nbsp;for 2013 (Limited Edition perfumes for Valentine's Day), I have been inspired to dig out all the past Lupercalia perfumes in my stash, reminiscing some old favourites and giving a second chance to one which I didn't like originally:&nbsp;<i style="font-weight: bold;">Khajuraho </i>(re released this year.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPBfZYi8vIA/UQ4_KRN4tnI/AAAAAAAACDg/YKnWT8XmKfI/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPBfZYi8vIA/UQ4_KRN4tnI/AAAAAAAACDg/YKnWT8XmKfI/s320/IMG_1340.JPG" width="195" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Khajuraho 2011:&nbsp;This is a blissful, euphoric blend based on an ancient Indian love potion: honey, date palm, tuberose, davana blossom, amber, white sandalwood, vanilla bean, Damask rose, and champaca flower.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In one of my <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/some-bpals-that-didnt-work-for-me.html" target="_blank">previous posts</a>, I have told all about how Khajuraho didn't work for me. My main complaint was that the florals turned soapy on my skin. Today, the bottle is 2 years old. I have been testing if there is actually any change with ageing. I think this time I 'get' the perfume, if not love. It is indeed a nice floral. It smells sweet in the bottle and florals start coming out once it goes on my skin. There is a heady tuberose with some artemisia. What remains later is creamy with hints of date syrup/honey-like sweetness. The sweetness is tamed by the floral notes. As the perfume progresses, the dreaded soapiness come through loud and clear. Now I think that it is due to the rose and sandalwood. I have learnt to let this pass and wait for about 15 minutes when the soap is subdued. Once it passes the dry down is actually delightful green-floral-sweet with a pronounced artemesia note.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;It is much less soapy than before so I think ageing has done it some good. The dry down is much more wearable/bearable and something I can comfortably wear the whole day. In fact, I fell asleep on the couch yesterday (saturday afternoon nap!) with Khajoraho on my wrist and the wrist held pressed to the nose. I did sleep well! I have been wearing it all day today and I like what I smell. I will like it better when all the soapiness completely goes away for which I may have to wait for another 2 years.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYy6C2ikHbk/UQ4_ED0pcvI/AAAAAAAACDY/Bi0yzMTvbuc/s1600/IMG_1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aYy6C2ikHbk/UQ4_ED0pcvI/AAAAAAAACDY/Bi0yzMTvbuc/s320/IMG_1348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some decants sent to me by <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dee</a>. She gets me hooked on&nbsp;all those creamy chocolate scents!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Love's Philosophy</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Vanilla, saffron, and cream.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simple and delightful! From the decant it smells like cream. It is sweet, buttery and delicious! Initially when I apply it on my skin, I get a very strong note of sassafras, the root beer/<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/bptp-weenie-slaugh-muscle-rub-smell.html" target="_blank">muscle rub smell</a>.&nbsp;I expected saffron but it turned out to be sassafras. It did take me by surprise, not that I don't like sassafras but I think the combination of that with cream is a bit weird. It takes sometime for the sassafras to disappear and when it does, the creamy vanilla is just awesome. It is sweet, beautiful and really really yummy! It stays on the skin like forever! I know it is not an easy perfume to find being limited edition. The closest thing I have to this is Boo. Boo has the same creaminess as Love's Philosophy. Whereas Boo is a bit heavier and foodier, Love's Philosophy is somewhat lighter and more feminine. Love both!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Sugared She-Goat Chocolatier (2010)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>Milk Chocolate and Matcha Green Tea Ganache Truffle</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From the decant it smells like green lemon (like lime, perhaps) and somewhat like leaves of the gum tree (eucalyptus, but not as strong as the oil). It kind of reminds me of house cleaning products, so sorry to say this! The chocolate is very light and hardly smellable. Not feeling the love in this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>White Chocolate, Strawberry and White Pepper Truffle</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I like this a lot. It smells like white chocolate and white pepper from the decant. The strawberry comes out on the skin very nicely. It is not fruity but more like a confectionery kind of Strawberry. All the notes work really well. It smells like a light chocolate which is mildly spiced with pepper and candied strawberries. Very nice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDjw8FYb2u8/UQ4_CyDPvYI/AAAAAAAACDQ/1Am54q56Nsg/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FDjw8FYb2u8/UQ4_CyDPvYI/AAAAAAAACDQ/1Am54q56Nsg/s400/IMG_1349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Full bottles from past&nbsp;Lupercalia&nbsp;I currently have</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Khajuraho 2011</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Red Lantern 2011: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/bpal-red-lantern.html" target="_blank">read review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Smut 2012: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/smut-2012-black-phoenix-alchemy-lab.html" target="_blank">read review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Womb Furie 2010 and 2012: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/bpal-womb-furie.html" target="_blank">read review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have also had some full bottles of Lupercalia scents in the past that I have given away/sold:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">White Chocolate and Sugared Violets:&nbsp;<a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/bpal-lupercalia-09-white-chocolate-and.html" target="_blank">read review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(NSFW images)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harikata: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.com/2011/02/bpal-lupercalia-09-harikata.html" target="_blank">read review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man With Phallus Head: <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/bpal-lupercalia-09-man-with-phallus.html" target="_blank">read review</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sample of Dark Chocolate Green Lime which I didn't particularly like. I couldn't decide if I liked the bottle of The Perfumed Garden or not, so I passed it on to <a href="http://jademusing.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Jade</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This time, I am not getting anything from BPAL's Lupercalia update as there is nothing in particular I want. If there was Womb Fury or Smut, I would have been keen to order back up bottles but they are not listed this year.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of Womb Furie, the vintage ad on my 2012 bottle is quite funny and very appropriate for some self love this season full of couples and lovers! Here is the link to the <a href="http://vintage-ads.livejournal.com/2240657.html" target="_blank">vintage ad</a>. Yes, yes, have to agree, that machine looks like it&nbsp;cures everything and more ;)&nbsp;</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-74474332602400507962013-02-01T19:36:00.000+00:002013-02-01T19:36:15.003+00:00Twyla Perfumes: Haul & Reviews<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Another rave post about <a href="http://twylarose.com/" target="_blank">Twyla perfumes</a>! I think Twyla deserves all the praise because she makes such wonderful perfumes. Here is my first ever&nbsp;Twyla Perfumes&nbsp;order.<br /><br />Firstly, my shopping experience has been beyond satisfactory. I ordered from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/twylaperfumes" target="_blank">Twyla's Etsy Store</a> and not from the website because I don't have PayPal right now. Twyla was lovely enough to accommodate me. I used 20% off offer from <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/an-awesome-excuse-to-go-shopping-at.html" target="_blank">Dee's Blog</a>. Twyla added a dram of Spirit Of Christmas Past generously to my order. I am thrilled by this because that is the most amazing perfume I have ever smelt! The shipping was very quick. I got my order in 10 days from US to UK which is super quick! Everything was well packed and included a handwritten note from Twyla, very sweet!<br /><br />Do check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/twylaroses?fref=ts" target="_blank">Twyla's Facebook page</a> and her<a href="http://snootyrose.com/" target="_blank"> blog</a> for new releases and offers. There are new creams, single notes, hair perfume and a new face oil! I can't wait to place my next order!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vPiQbUGkZac/UQv_OGvWfgI/AAAAAAAACC8/UH7P6mUfVm0/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vPiQbUGkZac/UQv_OGvWfgI/AAAAAAAACC8/UH7P6mUfVm0/s640/IMG_1279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Let's talk about the lovely perfumes now.&nbsp;One very excited reviewer here!<br /><br /><b><i>Milk Flower</i></b><br /><i>A creamy floral, fresh and sweet yet complex. &nbsp;As a kid, i was so in love with the scent of lilacs - I wanted to pick them, put them in a bowl and eat them with fresh, cold whipped cream and sugar. This scent is about as close to that as I can get. &nbsp;Lilac, carnation absolute, tuberose absolute and white rose drenched in vanilla, amber and cream with the faintest breath of fresh mint absolute.</i><br /><i><br /></i>I liked the description so much that went straight for a full bottle. No regrets here. It is amazing and I love it. This is so gorgeous that I can want to wear it everyday of my remaining scented life. In the bottle, I get sweet cream. It is not at all sugary sweet but sweet like cream itself. It is light, fluffy whipped cream. The flowers are really pretty and do get the gentle lilacs and some indistinct but very beautiful flowers. There is mint from the start but it kind of blends in and gives the perfume a cool effect.<br /><br />I am in love with Milk Flower. It is so delicate and so creamy.&nbsp;It is such a soothing smell.&nbsp;Yes, the projection is not all over the place but it is something you wear to please yourself rather than anyone else.&nbsp;I keep smelling my wrists and just enjoy my own fragrance. The lasting power is about 2 or 3 hours and needs to be reapplied frequently but I really don't mind doing that. The fragrance is worth it.<br /><br /><b><i>Slammerkin</i></b><br /><i>Golden amber, my own hand-blended, proprietary version of Egyptian Musk, vintage patchouli, pink lotus, carnation, Russian rose otto, bourbon vanilla, benzoin, immortelle and bitter almond.</i><br /><i><br /></i>Slammerkin smells very rich and luscious in the bottle. It actually smells like a fruit called Sapodilla. Gosh, that is one fruit you'll never forget the smell of. It is a lovely smell actually, very ripe and very boozy, some what like overripe pears. Think of a pear that is so ripe that all the sugars are fermenting into alcohol... that is what sapodilla smells like. This may make you think that it is a fruity perfume but far from it, it is a nice full bodied blend of some beautiful resins. That boozy smell is what I think may be bourbon vanilla and benzoin mixed together with a warm amber. The bourbon vanilla becomes more apparent on the skin with a barely there flash of bitter almonds. I don't get any florals in particular but it is a smooth and soft blend. The dry down is a gently laden with a nice pleasant patchouli and a sheer musk. Musk is not really clean or animalic or floral. It is a gentle skin musk that is warmed up with amber and bourbon vanilla.<br /><br />Slammerkin is awesomeness. Twyla says it is an aromatherapy version of an aphrodisiac. I really don't know about that but to me Slammerkin is a big and gentle perfume that I can comfortably wear. I am impressed with the lasting power and the projection of this perfume. So glad I got a full bottle.<br /><br /><br /><b><i>The Golden Lilies</i></b><br /><i>Lily-of-the-Valley, tiare flower, apricot, tonka, davana, amber, sandalwood and fire tree.&nbsp;</i><br />In the vial, I get apricots. Sweet apricot with mashed flowers. Very lovely smell! The apricot gives way to a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Artemisia/davana is nicely aromatic with a touch of green (like greenness of LOTV). In the drydown, I don't get any apricot but the flowers are beautiful. LOTV is still indistinct but graciously present. It smells like a warm floral on my skin, very delightful indeed. I will definitely go for a full size of this.<br /><i><br /></i><i><b>Bone Flower</b>, another name for the lovely tuberose. Tropical flowers on a grave - mysterious, cool, ethereal and beautiful. The complex tuberose blended with the musky scent of loamy, tropical soil and unearthed bones. Tuberose Absolute, Balsam of Peru, Maile leaf (used in Hawai'ian funereal services), Styrax, Sandalwood Absolute.</i><br /><br />I have no idea what is going on here but I seem to be anosmic to Bone Flower. I can't smell anything from the vial. On my skin also I get nothing. After about 2 or 3 minutes, I get a faint whiff of tuberose, which is also very fleeting and goes away in minutes. Initially I thought it could be because I was testing too many perfumes at that time. So I tested Bone Flower hours later and even the next day freshly showered skin (with a clean nose), still I got nothing. I adore tuberose and have never been anosmic to it. We used to have tuberose bulbs at home and the flowers smelt heavenly. Even in perfumes, I can quickly identify it and my skin loves tuberose too. I wonder what is causing me not to smell anything from Bone Flower. Could it the particular kind of musk? I really don't know. It has left me baffled.<br /><br /><b><i>Only Alice</i></b><br /><i>Sandalwood, soft musk, cedarwood atlas, orange, pine scotch, vanilla and myrrh.</i><br />Only Alice begins with a woody musk, kind of smells like Indian incense sticks. The dry down is really good, has a little sweetness from vanilla and smells a bit pine-y. I still don't know if I like it or not. I think because it smells like incense sticks on my skin makes me feel a bit uncomfortable to wear it as a perfume. It&nbsp;is a nice perfume that I will be testing a lot before I conclude if I should get a full size or not.<br /><br /><b><i>White Chocolate Apricot</i></b><br /><i>Apricot natural isolate, white chocolate, vanilla and coconut accord</i><br />This is from the Valentine's Day collection and I got as a free sample with my order. It is delicious! Twyla's white chocolate accord is to die for! It takes me a whole new level of olfactory pleasure! The white chocolate in this is beautiful. I get apricot but not as much as I get in The Golden Lilies. There is also mild coconut that gives a tropical feel. Very nice perfume. Love to wear it!</div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2727578105176153855.post-13064881836602014342013-01-31T19:08:00.001+00:002013-01-31T19:08:36.602+00:00The Oddity: Fountain Pens!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">A few weeks ago, Nadja (of&nbsp;<a href="http://ladomna.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">La Domna</a>) tagged me for an oddity post. <a href="http://beautyreductionista.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Liz</a> writes a series 'Things I Like A Lot' on her blog. I can't do a series because my life is not that exciting really. But this is my one off oddity post about my fountain pen love!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUcq7Q0U82U/UQqxKSiaNKI/AAAAAAAACCY/C7QF-A1A82I/s1600/IMG_1334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUcq7Q0U82U/UQqxKSiaNKI/AAAAAAAACCY/C7QF-A1A82I/s400/IMG_1334.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing with Mont Blanc 145 Chopin fountain pen</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love fountain pens. Love that borders obsession.&nbsp;My love for fountain pens started when I was in 3rd grade, thanks to my teacher, Ms Burnie Fife who&nbsp;had the most beautiful handwriting and taught us how cool and grown up it is to write with a fountain pen. Since then I have been a devout fountain pen user. My first fountain pen was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camlin_(pen_manufacturer)" target="_blank">Camlin</a>&nbsp;which leaked like a real water fountain. Ink stains on fingers and clothes, filling it up with a filler, keeping a piece of chalk to suck the ink, lending and borrowing ink drops.... was so much fun! Then I moved on to better pens like&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shanghai_Hero_Pen_Company" target="_blank">Hero</a>, Parker, Camel, Pilot, Waterman etc. I wrote with many fountains pens till I completed my university.&nbsp;I still do and thankfully my line of work involves a lot of writing.<br />I write with ball point pens, gel pens too but fountain pens have always been close to my heart. Nothing else gives the pleasure of writing as a fountain pen gives!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I also married a man who is as fond of fountain pens as I am. We keep buying pens as gifts for each other. We don't really collect fountain pens but we have some nice ones. These are the pens we are using right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0P5xtSvCmpc/UQlhzgwQePI/AAAAAAAACCE/2Sbx0XxjHzg/s1600/IMG_1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0P5xtSvCmpc/UQlhzgwQePI/AAAAAAAACCE/2Sbx0XxjHzg/s400/IMG_1323.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">We have an obsession with Mont Blanc, a super expensive obsession. Three Mont Blanc pens between us:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Mont Blanc Meisterstruk&nbsp;<a href="http://www.montblanc.com/en-GB/Flash/Default.aspx#/collections/writing-instruments/unisex/meisterstck/black-resin-platinum/platinum-line-hommage-a-wamozart-fountain-pen-05029" target="_blank">Mozart</a>, a set of a fountain pen and a ball point pen&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/the-ten-best-fountain-pens-1043935.html?action=gallery&amp;ino=4" target="_blank">Montblanc Meisterstück No. 145 - Hommage á F. Chopin</a>&nbsp;Fountain pen (one of the best and iconic Mont Blanc pens).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fqvp4_EMGuk/UQlhwcjL-lI/AAAAAAAACB0/Vwh0H8FteHg/s1600/IMG_1320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fqvp4_EMGuk/UQlhwcjL-lI/AAAAAAAACB0/Vwh0H8FteHg/s400/IMG_1320.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mont Blanc Pens (3 pens from the top)&nbsp;</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pink Kingsley mini fountain pen</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">vintage Plexor (1940s I think)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cross and Shaeffer&nbsp;fountain pens</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;and Cross roller ball pen (in the white box, newest addition)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0yzHRcl04M/UQlhy7C5gxI/AAAAAAAACB8/9WSblZWW3Lk/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0yzHRcl04M/UQlhy7C5gxI/AAAAAAAACB8/9WSblZWW3Lk/s200/IMG_1326.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my favourite pen, Kingsley mini fountain pen. It is the least expensive of all my pens. This is a total attention grabber and the photo doesn't do it justice. My all time favourite pen is still a Hero pen. I &nbsp;need to buy one soon.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I do check fountain pen forums occasionally and love watching fountain pen videos on YouTube.&nbsp;But I have to admit I am not really into the technicalities of pens, unlike many other people out there who really know their stuff. My knowledge about pens is comparable to someone&nbsp;owning and enjoying a Serge Lutens but not knowing much about the notes or the perfumer. It smells good is all that matters for a perfume and for a pen, it writes well is all that matters.&nbsp;</div></div>Suhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16961191295563254634noreply@blogger.com21